Knowra Erysipelas Erysipelas Erysipelas is an acute bacterial infection of the upper skin and superficial lymphatic vessels, usually caused by group A streptococci. It produces a raised, sharply demarcated area of redness and swelling.
Group A streptococcus : Streptococcus pyogenes is a bacterium that causes infections ranging from strep throat to invasive disease. It is the usual cause of erysipelas and can enter through breaks in the skin.
Clinical diagnosis : Clinical diagnosis identifies a condition from symptoms, examination findings, and medical history. Erysipelas is usually recognized from its sudden onset and sharply bordered, raised erythema.
Epidermis : The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin, forming a protective barrier over deeper tissues. Erysipelas affects the upper skin, though its inflammation characteristically involves the superficial dermis.
Recurrent erysipelas : Recurrent erysipelas is the repeated occurrence of erysipelas, often affecting the same limb. Repeated episodes can follow persistent entry sites or impaired lymphatic drainage.
Lymphatic system : The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, tissues, and organs that returns fluid to the bloodstream and supports immune defense. Infection of superficial lymphatic vessels helps produce erysipelas’s raised, sharply edged inflammation.
Penicillin : Penicillin is a group of beta-lactam antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell-wall synthesis. It is a standard treatment when erysipelas is caused by susceptible streptococci.
Dermis : The dermis is the connective-tissue layer beneath the epidermis, containing blood vessels, nerves, and skin appendages. Inflammation in the superficial dermis contributes to erysipelas’s visible redness and raised texture.
Lymphangitis : Lymphangitis is inflammation of lymphatic vessels, often visible as tender red streaks extending from an infection. It can accompany erysipelas as bacteria and inflammation involve superficial lymphatic channels.
Skin barrier : The skin barrier is the protective outer interface that limits water loss and blocks pathogens and irritants. Cracks, wounds, and other barrier disruptions can provide an entry point for the bacteria.
Cephalexin : Cephalexin is an oral cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat susceptible bacterial infections, including some skin infections. It is one oral option for uncomplicated erysipelas when an appropriate beta-lactam is suitable.
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